BIG THIRD PERIOD DOES IN WEST AS SWEDES SCORE WIN

TIMMINS, Ont. – The Swedes are sitting pretty, but West is in trouble at the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Mika Zibanejad scored once and added an assist in the decisive third period as Sweden kept its unblemished record intact with a 5-2 victory over West on Thursday night at McIntyre Arena, dropping the Canadian side to 0-2.

Zibanejad also added a goal in the second period for a three-point night, while Joakim Ryan, Victor Arvidsson and Karl Johansson also found the back of the net in the final 20 minutes. Ryan and Zibanejad scored less than two minutes apart early in the third to break open a 1-1 tie.

Todd Fiddler and Michael St. Croix had the goals for West, which needs wins in both of its final preliminary round games – including against two-time defending gold medalist Ontario on Saturday – if it hopes to run its semifinal-appearance streak to three years.

West pulled to within a goal at 3-2 on St. Croix’s first goal of the tournament, but Arvidsson restored the two-goal lead just 46 seconds later and Johansson ended the drama and ensured Sweden would take its perfect record into its New Year’s Day showdown with Ontario.